Lots of milk!

I just pumped 8.5 oz from one side. I don't know what the heck I'm going to do with all this milk! Oversupply can be a blessing but it can also be a curse. I am very lucky that I can make enough milk for my baby, and maybe another two babies, but we do run into problems. As soon as Evie starts nursing, I have a huge letdown. If I don't pull her off fast enough, she chokes and coughs on the milk, and most of the time, refuses to eat afterwards because she's traumatized. If I am lucky, she's hungry enough to continue eating five minutes later. If I pull her off fast enough during a let down, she pops back on, nurses happily, and pulls off when she's ready to sleep. Engorgement isn't the most fun either, especially when you go to nurse and your milk is spraying all over the place. Evelyn swallows a lot of extra air gulping down my milk, so we have to use simethicone (Mylicon) to keep her from having painful gas.

On top of her allergies, she also has reflux, and nursing a reflux baby when you have overactive let down is not very easy. I don't always get to snuggle her close to me while we quietly rock to sleep in the glider. Often I have to perch her upright and let her feet dangle between my legs. She falls asleep that way because her tummy isn't scrunched and pushing the acid up her esophagus. When we lay in bed she can nurse well because I'm on my side, so the milk flow isn't as strong plus she can lay out straight. I do have to put her upright when we're done, but sometimes at night I'm just way too tired and she falls asleep next to me. Next time she wakes, I will re-swaddle her and put her in the co-sleeper that's all rigged up for inclined sleeping and bottom support so she doesn't scoot down.

It's funny, even after all the problem's we've had with Evelyn's reflux, nursing, and sleep I would never even think about weaning her onto a bottle or formula. It's very likely that any type of formula would cause an allergic reaction since she can't have milk or soy. Feeding Evelyn from my own baby is the most special thing we do together and I just can't give that up. Pumping exclusively might not work in the long run because when baby's not actually at the breast, a mother's milk supply can lessen dramatically. Certainly doesn't happen with everyone, but I just wouldn't want to take the chance. If we can make it through these next couple months, her stomach sphincter should close up on its own and we'll go back to carefree nursing. For now, we're doing the best we can with what we've got. Evelyn seems like a happy baby and that makes me feel like I'm doing something right!

~C

Figuring things out

We are still trying to figure out Evelyn's medication. It has been hard to see her uncomfortable with the tummy pains and all. We took her off the Prevacid and she was a very unhappy baby. She was mainly having reflux, but she was also arching her back a lot. After going back on the half dose of Prevacid, bebe seems much better, but we're still having minor issues with her reflux. The latest thing that's bothering me (and her, of course) is the back arching. I am doing a bunch of research but I just can't seem to figure out why she's doing it if her esophagus isn't hurting. The only other thing I have read is that gas can make babies arch their backs. I'm stumped. Yes, I've called the pediatrician, but she seems to think Evelyn is either experiencing reflux or gas. Eh, I don't really like that answer and I'm so tired of bringing her in every couple weeks. It's not that Evelyn's really sick, I just don't like seeing her uncomfortable and I really want to figure all this out. Quite possibly, it's just general digestive maturation, which most babies go through anyway. Maybe being a first-time mom is the issue?

Despite Evelyn's digestive upsets, she is a happy, bouncy baby now. She is smiling so much and really loving her Johnny Jumper and the exersaucer. She can roll from back to side, side to back, and front to side/back. I really want to get a video of her doing these things, I just forget! I should keep the videocamera out for easy access. We also tried pears yesterday and she loved them. She could have eaten the whole jar but Grandpa only gave her a little more than half. She polished off the rest today and had some prunes. This baby loves food!! Since she pooped this morning after eating the pears, I'm pretty confident that we won't have the same issues that we did from the applesauce and rice cereal. I really have no idea how often to feed or how much, so we're starting slow. I didn't realize how fast we'd go from a tiny nursing newborn to this in such a short time. Babies are only babies for so long!

~C

Poop!

When you have a baby, poop doesn't bother you. Poop, gas, spit-up, pee.. Bring it on. You realize that it's better for your sweet baby to get these things out of her system than keep them in there, causing pain and discomfort. Poop is a great thing today because Evelyn, since drinking 2oz of prune juice and only taking half her medication dose, has pooped TWICE today. She hadn't gone in four days. I am so happy. I'm glad my baby is feeling better, isn't as gassy, and actually doesn't seem to be having trouble with reflux.

I have a super busy week still ahead of me and I am trying my best to get everything done. Evie has been very tired so she's finally sleeping for the first time today. We were running around all morning/afternoon and I'm beat, but there's still a lot to do. Wish me luck.

~Christine